“MIGHT CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE"

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 226, 20 June 1936, Page 14

“MIGHT CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE"

Man Poses as Doctor SIX CHARGES AGAINST ENGINEER “The punishment for this class, of. offence is extremely light, being only £o for each day. A man like this could do untold harm and might even cause loss of life,” said Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., when Norman Kenneth Sligo, described as au engineer, aged 36, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday, and pleaded guilty to six charges of passing himself off as a doctor, at Ponrua and Titahi Bay. ~ Detective-Sergeant L. B. Revell said that in May last it had been reported to the police that Sligo was practising as a medical man at Titahi Bay. Detective h. Hayhurst had made inquiries, as a result of which the present charges had been laid. x i .. . . In April, Sligo, who was living at Titahi Bay, had been called to attend a man apparently suffering from pleurisy. He had examined the patient in quite a professional manner, and summoned the ambulance and ordered the man s removal to hospital, where he had subsequently visited him several times, giving the name of Dr. K. Graham Graham. In the same month a Maori had been knocked down near Titahi Bay by a motor-cycle, and had his le"- broken. He had been attended by Sligo.” Another doctor had come along nnd after a consultation with him Sligo had recommended the man’s removal to hospital. He had also visited him several times. Later a child of three had become ill and Sligo at first had diagnosed tonsilitis, but later had altered his opinion and said it was pneumonia. He.had ordered the child into hospital. He had given the mother of the child a certificate, signed K. Graham Graham, M.D., to hand to the ambulance driver. On April 30 he had attended another child and had prescribed tablets, administering half a tablet in a glass of milk. Some days later the mother became ill, and he prescribed* for her and signed the prescription K. Graham Graham. On May 15 he had, attended a man who had a piece of steel in his eye, and when at the hospital the man had been examined by a registered doctor, Sli"0 had taken part in the consultation. ' “In addition to these charges, we know that he has been holding himself out as a medical man and attending other, people, the detective-sergeant added. “Yesterday in the Supreme Court, he was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment for false pretences. He has previous convictions for being in possession of dangerous drugs, for indecent assault and for assault.” The- magistrate said it was useless to impose a fine as Sligo had no money. On all charges he. would be convicted and discharged. Charged with being in arrear under a maintenance order to the extent of £2/10/up to August 30, 1935, Sligo was remanded for a week.